Verband der Säge- und Holzindustrie Baden Württemberg e.V.

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Verband der Säge- und Holzindustrie
Baden-Württemberg e.V.

Smaragdweg 6

70174 Stuttgart

Tel.: (07 11) 22 55 80-0

Fax: (07 11) 22 55 80-20

E-Mail: info@vsh.de

Waldkarte Baden-Würtemberg

THE GERMAN SAWMILL INDUSTRY

We have the material and the experience

With around 30 percent of its total land area covered in forest, Germany has one of the highest proportions of forest in Europe. This is no coincidence since forests in Germany have been managed in accordance with the principals of sustainability, for over 250 years now. The amount of wood used never exceeds the amount of wood growing to take its place, so that with annual new growth currently at around 60 million cubic meters, just two thirds of that figure is used each year.

This strategy of caring management and natural use of the forests means that Germany meets the requirements of both, the 1992 environment conference in Rio de Janeiro, and the 1993 Helsinki criteria on protection of Europe’s forests.

Furthermore, forests in Germany are protected from overuse by forestry legislation and good practice. Thinned-out areas of forest, and land taken out of agricultural use are constantly being reforested.

Our forests today offer a wide diversity of timber stocks amounting to around 2.7 billion cubic meters in all. Such considerable reserves mean that Germany will continue to be a reliable and consistent supplier of timber, for many years to come.

Our range of exports is growing all the time

The most important native German softwoods are spruce, pine, larch, fir and Douglas fir. These softwoods have been put to every conceivable use in Germany for centuries. With typical German thoroughness, their technological, mechanical and physical characteristics have been subjected to research and testing and are specified in DIN standards (Deutsche Industrie Norm).

In the timber construction industry in Germany and the rest of the world there is a demand for new and modern wood-based building materials, which far exceed standard requirements. In this area too, the German timber industry with its innovative products is at the forefront when it comes to new developments.

Trusty German softwoods form the foundation of our continuously growing range of exported timber.

FIVE GOOD REASONS

Good reasons for choosing sawn softwood from Germany

There is a host of reasons why Germany's modern sawmills and timber export traders, should be counted amongst your preferred business partners:

Structure: Over 2,000 mainly small and medium-sized companies, often family-owned over generations, combine tradition, craftsmanship and high-technology to create a powerful, dynamic industry.
Quality: German softwood is noted for low tolerances, high dimensional stability and good surface qualities. This is achieved by state of the art technology in cutting, sorting, kiln drying and high pressure chromate-free impregnation.
Diversity of product ranges: German sawmills produce both standard dimensions and special products efficiently and to order. If required, timbers from 6 to 10 meters in length, or even up to 18 meters in special cases can be delivered.
Flexibility: Production geared to meeting the demands of international customers is part of the comprehensive services offered by modern German companies. Deliveries can be made in accordance with the respective national standards (EU, US, JAS or others) of our customers world wide.
Consulting and service: A high level of stocks, flexible production, special productions, rapid order processing, excellent value for money, global deliveries by road, rail or ship organized either directly by the sawmill or by export traders - these are the strengths of the German timber industry.

German softwood is always the right choice.
A short overview of the range and depth of our standard products or product lines:

THE PRODUCTS

1. Planed timber from Germany: Versatility and quality

Many different groups of products are associated with the term "planed timber" in Germany, e.g. laths, unplaned boards, profile timber, scantlings and beams.

Beams
Beam is the term used for sawn timber assortments which have minimum widths of 20 cm measured across the wider width. Frames and beams made of sawn softwood are suitable for structural use, particularly for interior work.
Scantlings
Scantlings are understood to be squared timber and beams. Squared timber has either a square or rectangular cross section. The facing edge is usually at least 6 cm long, while the longer side is three times that at most.
Profile timber
Profile timber is produced from unplaned wood and is used for both structural and decorative purposes. Variations in surface structures (profiles) make this product range suitable for a diversity of possible uses in interior work. For outdoors, not just visual requirements but structural ones are fulfilled, providing protection and insulation for the house.
Profile timber without tongue and groove
Profile boards without tongue and groove are boards which have been planed on every side, and are suitable for both interior use as well as outdoor applications.
Laths
Laths have a maximum cross section area of 32 cm and a maximum width of 8 cm. Laths are offered planed and finger-jointed.

Under the general term "planed timber", the German timber industry offers a wide diversity of high quality softwood products. It always pays to ask.

2. Sawn timber: a robust range with a fine Cut

The term "sawn timber" covers an extensive range of spruce, fir, pine, larch and Douglas fir and includes the following product types:

Log products
These are produced from spruce, fir, pine or larch by live log sawing, so that the wane is retained. Logs represent the German forestry industry at its best: strong timber from sustainably-managed and well cared for stocks.

Standard trade sizes are lengths of 4-6 meters and top diameters from 30 cm upwards. A customer-oriented assortment is offered, including defect-free wood required for high-quality joinery work.
Planks and boards
Edged or double-cut sawn timber. Planks are generally 40 mm in thickness. One side of the cross section is at least double the width of the smaller side. The term board is used for sawn timber, which is at least 8 mm thick and 9 cm wide.
Laminas
Being the base material for glue-laminated timber, laminates have to meet special requirements in terms of quality. They are sorted optoelectronically and tested for bending strength. Laminates are available in thicknesses of up to 48 mm and widths of up 26 cm.
Side-cut
Double-Cut or trimmed timber is available in thicknesses of 14-28 mm. Side cut is particularly suitable for formwork and the production of crates and pallets.
Scantlings on stock
Sawn to standard trade dimensions and held on stock.
Sawn timber specialities
One of the strengths of the German timber industry is specialities produced in direct consultation with the user and producer, for example:

Sheet piles for harbor construction, quarter cuts for window edges, large squared timber cross sections for roof structures, special lengths and thicknesses.

DIN 4074 - Construction timber

In order to provide users with the certainty they require when using construction timber for structural purposes, the product is divided by the German timber industry into two grades on the basis of DIN 4074 (Deutsche Industrie Norm):

Group 1

1 wood moisture Um 20%
2 dry graded according to DIN 4074-1
3 multiple-strand cut; required dimensions permitting
4 minimum cutting class A according to DIN 68365 (restriction on wane)
rough sawn

Group 2

Graded in a fresh state.Warping and seasoning are not taken into account during grading.

wood moisture at grading Um > 20% according to DIN 4074-1
rough sawn

To allow for shrinkage, the cut of both groups is oversized, ensuring that the cross sections can be retained at wood moisture contents of Um 20%.

Products bearing the compliance mark show that they have been carefully graded in accordance with DIN 4074-1.

3. MH® solid timber

MH^® solid timber is enhanced sawn construction timber, cut from native softwood to special dimensions as listed. MH^® solid timber is solid wood in a single piece; no glue and no finger-jointing.

Technical drying to 15± 3% and free of heart conversion, produces edged timber with high levels of dimensional stability and minimal splitting.

MH^® solid timber fulfils precisely defined quality criteria and hence all requirements for loadbearing and bracing constructions, in accordance with DIN 1052.

MH^® solid timber is supplied with the German compliance mark (Ü-Zeichen).

MH^® solid timber is produced in three different grades depending on application and use:

MH Plus: The highest quality grade for use where the material is exposed to view; planed on four sides and chamfered.

MH Fix: For example, used for wall constructions with level surfaces.

MH Natur: For use in roof constructions, for example: rough sawn.

In addition to permanent quality controls in the companies themselves, regular quality control inspections are performed by TÜV Produkt Service GmbH.